tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970258.post116536070154569196..comments2023-09-11T11:02:49.536+01:00Comments on Pupart - musings on music, literature film and whatever.: Big Brother is Listening to YouJuliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06090382196937582571noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970258.post-1165455811419518142006-12-07T01:43:00.000+00:002006-12-07T01:43:00.000+00:00Whilst I applaud your comments when wearing my Civ...Whilst I applaud your comments when wearing my Civil Liberties hat, I also - through my last job -was often aware of disturbing intelligence which utterly changed my view of the world. (I exclude from this, of course, the notorious Iraq dossier, the production of which was inexcusable in my view). The information that I knew about was of a very low level and yet was enough to often prevent me sleeping well at night.<BR/><BR/>I'm now not sure what the answer is - I suspect that, whilst matters such as this should of course be debated in the House of Commons, any vote always attracts a knee-jerk rebel response, which often, in my experience, bears no relation to the very different nature of the world compared to when most of us developed our views on civil liberties. <BR/><BR/>I am profoundly uncomfortable even writing this as it sounds so reactionary - but do think it's necessary to try to think about the very high expectations that we place on our police and other security services to anticipate and protect us from threats. <BR/><BR/>I suspect that achieving a balance between the absolute importance of protecting our liberties, (as they are what make our society as it is), with the necessity of trying to protect that same society, will force us all to constantly re-evaluate our views - which is all the harder when we are not privy to what is really going on for much of the time. <BR/><BR/>I don't know the answer, just that I know that I need to consider these issues far beyond what my lifelong socialism would have me think automatically.theprovocativecynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08107903326035987724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970258.post-1165412093708678082006-12-06T13:34:00.000+00:002006-12-06T13:34:00.000+00:00I am always surprised by the number of cameras tha...I am always surprised by the number of cameras that are apparently around when I watch the British mysteries -- which are really great btw.Anvilcloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com